1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:13,947 Speaker 1: from news talks Edby. 3 00:00:12,827 --> 00:00:15,467 Speaker 2: Morning just after nine New Zealand time. They faced Italy 4 00:00:15,507 --> 00:00:18,387 Speaker 2: and Turin for commentary here on news Talks EDB. Former 5 00:00:18,467 --> 00:00:22,427 Speaker 2: thirty five game nineteen Test all Backs fullback Karen Crowley 6 00:00:22,667 --> 00:00:25,547 Speaker 2: coached Italy from twenty twenty one through to the twenty 7 00:00:25,867 --> 00:00:28,787 Speaker 2: twenty three Rugby World Cup. That time at the Helm 8 00:00:28,827 --> 00:00:32,267 Speaker 2: included anasuric first ever win over Australia and ending a 9 00:00:32,267 --> 00:00:34,747 Speaker 2: long windless run in the Six Nations. He's now coaching 10 00:00:34,787 --> 00:00:38,507 Speaker 2: in Japan and joins US now. Karen. After the World 11 00:00:38,547 --> 00:00:42,107 Speaker 2: Cup last year, you said that the Italian players need 12 00:00:42,187 --> 00:00:44,707 Speaker 2: to start being treated with a bit of respect off 13 00:00:44,747 --> 00:00:46,307 Speaker 2: the field. What did you mean by that? 14 00:00:47,067 --> 00:00:47,227 Speaker 3: Yeah? 15 00:00:47,267 --> 00:00:49,787 Speaker 4: I good to be on look, Yeah that was within 16 00:00:51,147 --> 00:00:54,267 Speaker 4: within Italy circles. I felt, I feel, you know, there 17 00:00:54,347 --> 00:00:56,107 Speaker 4: s some stuff goes on behind the scenes that are 18 00:00:56,147 --> 00:01:00,547 Speaker 4: not don't don't put the team in the best position. 19 00:01:00,587 --> 00:01:03,467 Speaker 4: You have to perform on weekends or on games, and 20 00:01:04,467 --> 00:01:06,027 Speaker 4: you know there was stuff going on in the World 21 00:01:06,067 --> 00:01:07,107 Speaker 4: Cup behind the scenes. 22 00:01:07,107 --> 00:01:10,067 Speaker 3: It shouldn't have been going on, you know, just things 23 00:01:10,107 --> 00:01:10,467 Speaker 3: like that. 24 00:01:10,467 --> 00:01:11,867 Speaker 4: There was a sort of it was a dig at 25 00:01:11,867 --> 00:01:15,947 Speaker 4: the at the Italian Italian hierarchy. 26 00:01:15,947 --> 00:01:17,227 Speaker 3: I suppose of the time. 27 00:01:17,507 --> 00:01:19,387 Speaker 2: Do you think things have improved? 28 00:01:19,867 --> 00:01:21,747 Speaker 4: Well, I don't know. You know, they got rid of 29 00:01:21,787 --> 00:01:25,907 Speaker 4: me straight after that. So yeah, look the guys, I. 30 00:01:25,787 --> 00:01:26,387 Speaker 3: Think it is. 31 00:01:26,427 --> 00:01:28,387 Speaker 4: You know, I think their performances are showing that they 32 00:01:28,427 --> 00:01:33,107 Speaker 4: are in that respect. So you know, I think, you know, 33 00:01:33,227 --> 00:01:36,347 Speaker 4: things are progressing. Has been a change in leadership, which 34 00:01:36,387 --> 00:01:39,267 Speaker 4: I think is as a good move and hopefully you know, 35 00:01:39,347 --> 00:01:40,947 Speaker 4: they get the benefit of that. 36 00:01:41,267 --> 00:01:43,427 Speaker 2: So on the grass then I think you also said 37 00:01:43,467 --> 00:01:45,867 Speaker 2: that this current World Cup cycle, the one we're in now, 38 00:01:46,467 --> 00:01:49,107 Speaker 2: could be at a least time. Have you seen that 39 00:01:49,227 --> 00:01:51,267 Speaker 2: on field progress in the last year or so? 40 00:01:52,387 --> 00:01:53,107 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think so. 41 00:01:53,147 --> 00:01:55,827 Speaker 4: I mean I think the reason I said that is that, 42 00:01:56,347 --> 00:01:58,387 Speaker 4: you know, I thought most of the guys that went 43 00:01:58,427 --> 00:02:00,187 Speaker 4: to the last World Cup will be at this next 44 00:02:00,227 --> 00:02:01,987 Speaker 4: World Cup, and then I think most of them will 45 00:02:01,987 --> 00:02:03,747 Speaker 4: be at the World Cup after that as well. And 46 00:02:03,787 --> 00:02:05,707 Speaker 4: I think, you know, you're gonna have a lot of 47 00:02:05,707 --> 00:02:10,427 Speaker 4: players well by this World Cup who have had fifty 48 00:02:10,467 --> 00:02:12,787 Speaker 4: or sixty test matches, and then the next World Cup, 49 00:02:12,827 --> 00:02:14,347 Speaker 4: you know they're going to be up above that, which 50 00:02:14,427 --> 00:02:16,187 Speaker 4: you know they haven't had that for a long time 51 00:02:16,627 --> 00:02:19,147 Speaker 4: because there was a you know, a whole lot of 52 00:02:19,347 --> 00:02:21,547 Speaker 4: younger guys came in at the same time, and they 53 00:02:21,547 --> 00:02:22,427 Speaker 4: will be going forward. 54 00:02:22,427 --> 00:02:22,547 Speaker 3: You know. 55 00:02:22,587 --> 00:02:24,707 Speaker 4: I think they're gonna have a massive challenge against New 56 00:02:24,787 --> 00:02:28,067 Speaker 4: Zealand or against the All Blacks on Saturday. But you know, 57 00:02:28,267 --> 00:02:30,467 Speaker 4: I think they if they get the right sort of 58 00:02:30,547 --> 00:02:32,027 Speaker 4: draw at the next World Cup, you know, they could 59 00:02:32,027 --> 00:02:34,147 Speaker 4: be pushing or should be pushing for top eight. Anyway, 60 00:02:34,187 --> 00:02:34,867 Speaker 4: I think. 61 00:02:34,987 --> 00:02:37,667 Speaker 2: If there are areas which you could pinpoint that still 62 00:02:37,707 --> 00:02:39,827 Speaker 2: need to improve if they are to achieve that sort 63 00:02:39,867 --> 00:02:42,987 Speaker 2: of a goal at the next Rugby World Cup, care 64 00:02:43,027 --> 00:02:44,867 Speaker 2: and what would they be? Where do they need to 65 00:02:44,907 --> 00:02:45,587 Speaker 2: still improve? 66 00:02:46,947 --> 00:02:48,907 Speaker 4: They need big men up front. I mean they haven't 67 00:02:48,947 --> 00:02:51,787 Speaker 4: got big men. You know, they've got good players. I 68 00:02:51,827 --> 00:02:53,387 Speaker 4: mean you look at their front row. The lucid prop 69 00:02:53,427 --> 00:02:56,507 Speaker 4: the plays against you know, the All Blacks on the 70 00:02:56,547 --> 00:03:01,027 Speaker 4: weekend is against you know, one hundred and twenty five 71 00:03:01,107 --> 00:03:04,347 Speaker 4: kilo guy and he's one hundred and nine kilos. You know, 72 00:03:04,747 --> 00:03:07,427 Speaker 4: and at international level, you know you have parity. It's 73 00:03:09,147 --> 00:03:11,027 Speaker 4: in those sort of positions because you know you can 74 00:03:11,067 --> 00:03:12,987 Speaker 4: hang in and hang in and hang in, but ultimately 75 00:03:13,027 --> 00:03:15,987 Speaker 4: you know, the saying goes, you know, a good big 76 00:03:16,027 --> 00:03:18,827 Speaker 4: man will always always been a good smaller man. 77 00:03:18,867 --> 00:03:21,147 Speaker 3: So they need to get a little bit more size. 78 00:03:20,947 --> 00:03:23,707 Speaker 4: Particularly in their type five is probably the major area 79 00:03:23,827 --> 00:03:24,227 Speaker 4: I think. 80 00:03:24,467 --> 00:03:26,827 Speaker 2: So that's that's attracting big men though, isn't it that? 81 00:03:27,507 --> 00:03:29,587 Speaker 2: How do you how do you even start to strategize 82 00:03:29,667 --> 00:03:31,067 Speaker 2: to do that? Do you just go look around the 83 00:03:31,067 --> 00:03:32,187 Speaker 2: country for big blokes. 84 00:03:33,227 --> 00:03:36,507 Speaker 4: Well, there's a few players, you know, like who who 85 00:03:37,147 --> 00:03:39,267 Speaker 4: you know are Italian qualified? I mean a guy like 86 00:03:39,347 --> 00:03:42,827 Speaker 4: Deno Lamb for example, who has just crossed over is 87 00:03:42,867 --> 00:03:46,507 Speaker 4: you know, was Italian eligible, you know, and he's a 88 00:03:46,507 --> 00:03:48,427 Speaker 4: bigger man than some of them have got. There's a 89 00:03:48,427 --> 00:03:50,507 Speaker 4: couple of others out there that you know, they need 90 00:03:50,547 --> 00:03:53,027 Speaker 4: to try and really entice over and and then you 91 00:03:53,027 --> 00:03:55,067 Speaker 4: know they need to they need to get the systems 92 00:03:55,107 --> 00:03:57,267 Speaker 4: right that you know. Sometimes a bigger kid, you know, 93 00:03:57,347 --> 00:03:59,827 Speaker 4: coming through, you know he's not going to make it 94 00:03:59,867 --> 00:04:00,067 Speaker 4: for a. 95 00:04:00,067 --> 00:04:02,467 Speaker 3: Little while, but he develops later. 96 00:04:02,627 --> 00:04:04,707 Speaker 4: So you know you've got to put your put your 97 00:04:05,307 --> 00:04:08,547 Speaker 4: faith in those sort of guy rather than you know, 98 00:04:08,747 --> 00:04:10,507 Speaker 4: taking the hair and now, I mean there's a hell 99 00:04:10,547 --> 00:04:12,827 Speaker 4: of a lot of six for two locks in Italy 100 00:04:12,867 --> 00:04:14,907 Speaker 4: you know, whereas they need to be six, what's five? 101 00:04:14,987 --> 00:04:18,347 Speaker 3: Six, what's six? You know, even higher? So we're taller. 102 00:04:18,427 --> 00:04:20,307 Speaker 4: So you know, you've got to put your faith in 103 00:04:20,347 --> 00:04:23,947 Speaker 4: your and some younger, younger people that may not be 104 00:04:23,987 --> 00:04:24,707 Speaker 4: ready at the moment. 105 00:04:25,627 --> 00:04:28,587 Speaker 2: There was a suggestion that the All Black side to 106 00:04:28,667 --> 00:04:31,547 Speaker 2: play this game might be a little bit below full strength, 107 00:04:31,587 --> 00:04:33,987 Speaker 2: having played England Island in France and three big Test 108 00:04:34,027 --> 00:04:37,107 Speaker 2: matches over the last three weekends. But Raises named pretty 109 00:04:37,147 --> 00:04:39,467 Speaker 2: much a full strength side. Was that a surprise to you? 110 00:04:40,987 --> 00:04:41,667 Speaker 3: Oh? Yes and no. 111 00:04:41,747 --> 00:04:43,227 Speaker 4: I mean, look, they would have a plan I think 112 00:04:43,227 --> 00:04:45,827 Speaker 4: going in. I think if that beat in France, it 113 00:04:45,867 --> 00:04:47,827 Speaker 4: could have been different. The fact that you know they 114 00:04:47,827 --> 00:04:49,787 Speaker 4: didn't quite get over the line against France has probably 115 00:04:49,827 --> 00:04:51,027 Speaker 4: influenced things a little bit. 116 00:04:52,227 --> 00:04:56,707 Speaker 3: But you know, so you know that that was my 117 00:04:56,787 --> 00:04:57,707 Speaker 3: main takeaway from that. 118 00:04:57,787 --> 00:04:59,707 Speaker 4: I mean also, you've got a couple of guys retiring 119 00:04:59,787 --> 00:05:02,707 Speaker 4: and Caine and Piranara, and they wanted to send them 120 00:05:02,707 --> 00:05:04,987 Speaker 4: off on the right right sort of foot as well. 121 00:05:05,507 --> 00:05:09,107 Speaker 2: How have you rate rated the first year under Scott 122 00:05:09,187 --> 00:05:12,827 Speaker 2: Robertson's helm ship. I guess for the All Blacks. 123 00:05:13,707 --> 00:05:15,907 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's been challenging at the start obviously. 124 00:05:15,907 --> 00:05:17,067 Speaker 4: I mean, you know, I think they could have gone 125 00:05:17,107 --> 00:05:20,027 Speaker 4: across the line and you know in a couple of 126 00:05:20,027 --> 00:05:20,427 Speaker 4: games that. 127 00:05:20,347 --> 00:05:22,267 Speaker 3: They've lost, but they also could have got. 128 00:05:22,267 --> 00:05:24,107 Speaker 4: Beaten in a couple of games up won you know 129 00:05:24,107 --> 00:05:26,147 Speaker 4: if you look at those England games. But you know 130 00:05:26,187 --> 00:05:28,107 Speaker 4: it's the same anywhere you go. A new coach coming 131 00:05:28,147 --> 00:05:29,707 Speaker 4: in or a new coaching team, you know, they take 132 00:05:29,747 --> 00:05:32,467 Speaker 4: a little while the systems, they have new players, et cetera, 133 00:05:32,507 --> 00:05:34,707 Speaker 4: et cetera. So you know, I think they're tracking them 134 00:05:34,707 --> 00:05:38,347 Speaker 4: the right way. You know, they've had some good performances 135 00:05:39,827 --> 00:05:41,707 Speaker 4: and you know if they finish you know, strongly on 136 00:05:41,747 --> 00:05:43,627 Speaker 4: the week or on the weekend, well then you know, 137 00:05:43,707 --> 00:05:45,507 Speaker 4: I think you can certainly say that it's been a 138 00:05:45,547 --> 00:05:49,907 Speaker 4: successful first year. I mean, you know, they'ven't just introduced 139 00:05:49,907 --> 00:05:52,907 Speaker 4: some newer players and guys like Satiti and you know, 140 00:05:52,947 --> 00:05:54,827 Speaker 4: the halfbacks getting a little bit more depth. You know, 141 00:05:54,867 --> 00:05:57,787 Speaker 4: they're probably the one area that they probably are looking 142 00:05:57,827 --> 00:06:01,027 Speaker 4: at a little bit harder as probably the ten area. 143 00:06:02,747 --> 00:06:04,267 Speaker 4: But you know, apart from that, I think, you know, 144 00:06:04,307 --> 00:06:07,107 Speaker 4: it's been a pretty positive posit of year. 145 00:06:07,547 --> 00:06:08,987 Speaker 2: How's your first year been in Japan? 146 00:06:10,307 --> 00:06:10,427 Speaker 1: Uh? 147 00:06:10,627 --> 00:06:12,307 Speaker 3: Yeah, A bit of a struggle last year. 148 00:06:13,147 --> 00:06:15,707 Speaker 4: Yeah, we are coming to a team that had just 149 00:06:15,787 --> 00:06:18,187 Speaker 4: got promoted to First Division and you know we were 150 00:06:18,587 --> 00:06:20,987 Speaker 4: we got a few hidings that we're putting a lot 151 00:06:20,987 --> 00:06:23,267 Speaker 4: of hard work in this at the beginning of the 152 00:06:23,267 --> 00:06:25,427 Speaker 4: preseason at the moment and looking forward to this season 153 00:06:25,467 --> 00:06:26,507 Speaker 4: hopefully we can improve. 154 00:06:26,787 --> 00:06:29,107 Speaker 2: Good to hear, Hey, Karen, really appreciate you taking time 155 00:06:29,147 --> 00:06:31,347 Speaker 2: for a chat and lending us some of your analysis 156 00:06:31,347 --> 00:06:33,867 Speaker 2: and insight. Thank you very much, Cheers all the best now, 157 00:06:33,867 --> 00:06:35,747 Speaker 2: all the best to you too, Karen. Karen Crowley, their 158 00:06:35,747 --> 00:06:38,827 Speaker 2: former All Blacks fullback former coach of Italy eight. 159 00:06:39,347 --> 00:06:42,547 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 160 00:06:42,627 --> 00:06:45,947 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 161 00:06:45,987 --> 00:06:47,587 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio